Internship:
Applications of Hydroxyapatite in Fluoride Sorption

Organization:
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Adviser:
Peter Jaffe

"This summer I explored the uses of hydroxyapatite for sorption of fluoride from water in rural areas.  My research dealt mainly with synthesizing hydroxyapatite in a hard porous form that could be used in a water filter, as hydroxyapatite binds excess fluoride in water, reducing its concentration to safe amounts for consumption.  I worked with combining flour, yeast, clay, and hydroxyapatite to produce a porous material before firing my samples in a kiln to achieve the desired hardness.  The goal of the project was to create a process that can easily be reproduced in rural areas like India, where fluorosis is a major health issue, causing softening and bending of bones, especially in young children.  As a result of my summer research, I am continuing with this project as an independent study in Fall 2009."